Hi Avatar, Tension! Tension! Tension! So to ease it all, with your permission, I am gonna use your post to do some Confucius-like musing. I agree with you we shouldnt be here and I am very thankful to the players for giving me one of the best weeks of my life with their elimination of the CAPS. But I do not agree that this can now be considered a successful season becausE of that wonderful series. And I am not blaming the players. Whatever happens from now on, management MUST take responsibility for not crafting a better team during the season. I dont know if it was Gainey or Gauthier or JM. I dont know if it was the guy who handles the cap space and the ‘call up’ allotments. But there have been too many mistakes made in not, as you put it, properly tweaking the team to augment the core of Gomez/Gionta/Camilleri/etc etc. And we didnt have to go outside. White should have been added to the team to add size and character and give the team grit. The decision on keeping Pyatt with the team came too late. Bergeron’s early contribution to the power play should have been seen as just that.. a patch… an he should have been dispatched long ago. We could have certainly picked up a useful defenceman (not a star) with size and less downside. PAC, Maxwell, DAG, CHIP and yes the K brothers… all players whose situations an astute and decisive management TEAM( I stress team) would have resolved with much more immediately beneficial impact on the team and the season. We cannot give management a pass here. Next season will be as dismal as this one if the ‘modern methods’ of building a strong team is not learnt by those in charge… including whoever is coaching. Again I thank MOST of the players for the amazing thrill they gave us in the first round. But it wont make me forget the ugliness of the season, especially the way it ended. For Christ’s sake we couldnt WIN ONE GAME to secure our playoff spot. Successful… NO WAY!! Redeemed temporarily… MAYBE! Well it wasnt Confucius standard but it helped. Damn! I’m still tense! GO HABS GO!

Held hostage by a network that pays nothing for broadcast rights. The NHL will be negotiating this year as the deal endsin 2011 with NBC and VS. I’ve read a bidding war is in the offing as ABC and ESPN want the rights.

December 4, 2009 – Elmer Lach’s jersey took its rightful place with the Rocket’s in the rafters.

The Pens are the prime tenants, so they probably have a reservation clause in their contract. And touring bands will often put up a deposit fee to reserve a night at an arena when tentatively planning out a tour.

_____________________________________

Cheer for the crest on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.

The scheduling is not about the NHL or NBC. It’s simple business common sense from the point of view of whoever is managing the Arena facilities. You can’t allow a client to “tentatively” book a date only to have the right to change that date at the expense of other clients. It’s not just the Mellon, it would have subsequent effects to further booked dates of the NHL schedule. The Molson, one of North America’s busiest facilties, can’t just role out schedule changes to it’s spring lineup and no can any other facility. It’s a domino effect.

Yes, eighth seed. The difference between 8th and 5th is not very much at all – a few games on either end of the season and the Habs would have been higher. Consider the retooling of the team – new owners, new coach(es), new players… So we had a slow start. Markov out in the first game? Other significant injuries. A bounce the other way could have easily moved the Haps up in the standings. Maybe the season started with the Habs playing like an 8th seed but by the last half of the season the Habs were beginning to show more. This team can play.

If McDonagh goes back to school next season, the Rangers will still have a decent window of time to sign him after he finishes NCAA and before they would loose his rights. It is not an unusual situation. There is also some compensation I believe (a 2nd rounder?) if they are unable to sign the 1st round pick.

In one of his rare interviews, where he lets someone like Ron McLean ask “real” questions, why doesn’t someone ask him about the scheduling? He’s always harping on about “the integrity of the game”, or some other BS, but then he completely screws over teams like Mtl and Det to keep NBC happy. You cannot tell me there was anyway Detroit was able to prepare for game 1 (but at least they get some time to get ready for game 2). Maybe the quality of the hockey doesn’t matter to the NBC audience, since they don’t understand the game anyway. The compressed schedule during Olympic years in bad enough, but there is no reason to compress it during the playoffs. To 90% of hockey fans, a Saturday double-header with Mtl-Pit and Van-Chi would be an impressive way to start round 2.

The other problem with the lack of rest between games is injuries. Now, I know that Markov’s injury was the result of a clean hard hit (in spite of who made the hit), but as everyone knows, well rested players are less likely to get hurt on that play.

As for me, a guy who’s missed maybe 5-6 Habs games this year, I’ll check back with Boone and Sportscenter after supper. It sunny, warm and an early spring here in N.B. and I’ve got stuff to do. I’m sure, however, the guy in Podunk, Missouri is thrilled he’ll have something to watch this afternoon (unless he’s watching B-Ball, NASCAR, golf, etc.).

Heals is a PA guy and he spoke from his empathy for his brethern in red, not as a fan of “The Habs”. It’s not really the NHL’s fault that Habs are playing off of a tough 7 game series. It would be a little naive to think that they would change the schedule to accomodate any single team. I just can’t wait and see if NBC will switch to other programming if the game goes deep into OT!?!

JM needs to manage the ice time of the “tired’ players including sitting down our #1 Goalie. A win tonight (sorry – this afternoon, ugh) would be fantastic but it won’t happen unless we can outwork the smug Pens. If this can be accomlished then JM can give all players their regular icetime when back home for 2 games. 2-2 after 4 games would be better than expected so trying for 3 games to 1 is a little unrealistic.

Losing today’s battle is not the end of the war! I would save “our best” for games 3 and 4 and if they can manage a win today, then so much the better. Go Boys Go!

Can we loan Evander Kane from Atlanta for this series? For all the Matt Cooke haters out theres, and who am I kidding, we’re all Matt Cooke haters, here’s the video of Kane’s KO against Cooke. No wonder the kid was named after Holyfield.

Rangers, who conducted organizational meetings last week, are believed keenly interested in signing Ryan McDonagh, whose rights they acquired from Montreal in the Scott Gomez deal, but the Wisconsin defenseman has a fair amount of leverage as he awaits an offer.

McDonagh, who turns 21 next month, would play his senior year for the Badgers if he does not turn pro. If he remains unsigned through next year, McDonagh would become an unrestricted free agent as of Aug. 15, 2011.

Chances are, then, if the 6-foot-1, 215-pound McDonagh, who is regarded as a proficient, stay-at-home type physically ready for the NHL, does not sign this summer, he will not sign at all with the Blueshirts.

And though it would seem necessary for Sather to offer the Entry Level max, we’re hearing McDonagh will make his decision based less on the contract and more on his perception of the Rangers’ program.

I watch RDS.A lot of Canadiens fans refuse to watch the CBC pukes telecast.They are a Toronto based mentality and have only one opinion…dislike for Montreal.It shows in their biased hockey programing.Never saw so much praise heaped on the Pens…jeez enough to turn a dogs stomach.Never a comment about anything remotely encouraging about Montreal’s players.Check it out this is CBC last year and every year.I watch RDS period.CBC will never get their viewing numbers from me.

All the so-called experts have already written us off. Just like they did agains the Caps. They were WRONG last time because they overlooked the one stat you won’t find on paper. Character. That means pride, effort and guts.

By the way folks – perspective: We shouldn’t be here. We barely squeeked into the playoffs and magically witinessed the fall of the so called BEST team in the NHL. If that isn’t a damned successful season I don’t know what is. It was the first year of a rebuilt team that still needs tweaks and some trades.

They may yet get spanked by the Pens 4-0, but you know what? So what. 8th seed remember? It’s not that bad. Injuries to TWO key defenseman. They can whine about Staal as if we are supposed to care, but he’s nothing to his team compared to what Markov and Spacek are to the Habs – a team with already defensive woes at full strength.

The odds are overwhelmingly against the habs so even a win or 2 would be epic. GO HABS GO!

I’m excited for 2010-2011 when Subban and a tweaked team will take to the ice!

Cherry is like that grandfather who always goes on and on about anything and everything. He might call you Bob when your name is Ted. You don’t correct him you just smile and nod and hope he falls back asleep on the coach.

how far can the boys dig down with our depth..iam always hopeful but something tells me it may not be for long.

ps…i wish i was in charge of HNIC.i would do anything in my power to fire all of those monkeys out the door so fast it would make there heads spin. cherry continues to be such an embarrasment he can’t even pronounce Halaks name right..what a farce and they call themselves professional….sad, sad.

Well that is he thing. He has been playing a lot of minutes. He playe almost 20 minutes last game. Also, I said 75% of the responsibility. I think hockey sense wise he is better than Bergeron at this point. Now what I am worried is that Bergeron will be playing a lot of minutes where I will be screaming at him numerous times.

the scheduling sucks and the boys showed it on friday. i would put both darche and Sk in the lineup, let Metro and his shoulder take a breather (he’s not making much of an impact anyway; start Price to see if he can steal one but more to give Halak a rest, and have him ready for 2 home games; and focus the game plan on aggressive physical contact, trying to put a bit of wear and tear on the pens. let’s ruffle some feathers today and make em pay for whatever they get…

(then again, i am typing this in my bathrobe while martin and muller and pearn are probably getting about 4 hrs of sleep a night working through it)

The problem with PK is on the bench. Martin will not play him top minutes, and you have to sort of understand why. I have issues with Martin but it’s tough to just toss a rookie in there no matter who it is. I really hope PK does everything he possibly can to show his coach that he DESERVES top minutes. I mean who else can they use? Top minutes should go to PK and Gorges, with the 2nd pairing Gill and Hamrlik/Obyrne.

Pittsburgh is the flag ship team for the No Broadcasting Cash (for the NHL) network. NBC which gives the league $0 in real dollars gets to call the shots. The networks that actually pay cash for NHL TV rights, CBC and TSN get screwed in favour of Bettman’s revenue-sharing arrangement.

Canada is irrelevant and a major irritant to Bettman. We are supposed to sit down, shut up and never question the great Bettman.

Who cares if 20 per cent of the league is propping up more than 50 per cent of the US teams. That’s irrelevant in Gary’s world.

Hockey will never be a major sport in the US and they’re just deluding themselves to think otherwise.

Alright… We have lost one of our best defenseman. But we did discover one that can hold his own in PK Subban. He ha the speed and skills and he definately has the confidence. So I think he can fill 75% of Markov’s hockey sense. The other 25% will have to be Hamerlik. he has been weak or tired at times but he is the one that came through when Markov was down earlier in the year. As for Gill and Gorges. They should just continue playing the way they can.

Now for the forwards… I can’t not stand Andrei Kostitsyn anymore. he frustrates me almost more than the loafs. He shows up one game out of 10 and then you don’t see him for the next 9 games. He doesn’t hit, makes stupid mental errors (hence the 4th goal in Game 1), and he doesn’t look interested. I don’t know if it is a Russian thing but I don’t like his lack of enthusiasm for the team. I say we shouldn’t keep him next year. I do understand he has potential and he has a great shot and speed. but it isn’t any use if he doesn’t want to use his skills.

Gionta, Gomez must show their leadership this game. Gionta made a stupid mental erro by putting the puck over the glass for a delay of game call. Gomez on the other hand must just do what he has done all year. Be patient and skate deep in the Pittsburgh zone.

I also believe that Darche should play. Here is what I would do to mix up hte lines a little. I would put Pouliot back on teh first with Gomez and Gionta. he played really well last game. Then i would put Moen on the second line as he was effective there last game. I would try to put in Darche somewhere in there. I would may be replace Metropolit since we know he is playing injured. The 3rd line must stay intact.

Well good game everyone and be this time tomorrow it will be 1-1 series tie.

And they wonder why ratings for hockey are in the toilet. Here in the Northeast US the tempersatures will be in the high 80’s. Who the heck is going to be watching this game live? I’m a Habs fan and I’ll be taping it and watching it tonight. Crazy. Moreover, why did Montreal play on Friday when Boston and Philly were off for nearly a week?? Same for Detroit who got screwed.

The fact that Milbury has TV jobs on NESN (which is fine he’s a Bruins alumni) CBC and NBC speaks volumes about the lack of credible and entertaining candidates out there. I say hire Jeremy Roenick. I really miss the class and dignity of John Davidson too. He was a true pro.

Oh, you get told you’re out to lunch often? Not a suprise. Last guy I would blame on a 1 vs Goalie play would be the keeper. Shooter gets to skate across the front of the net and has all the advantages.

When will you guys figure out that SK doesn’t have the work ethic to make this squad? He proves it again and again. We won against Wash without him. Clearly the coaching staff is not willing to risk putting him out there anymore. He’ll have to change their minds in practice or wait till next year.

This is over in 4 games. At least Boston would’ve put up some sort of a fight against the Pens. This is basically just giving them a bye to the conference final. With this coaching and lack of effort they’d be lucky to even score.

MAB played about 2 and a half minutes in a row there… what was he doing halfway through the PP, he was skating with Talbot and then just let him go. thankfully talbot bobbled the puck but come on bergeron, use your damn head.

I followed this team 3000 Kilometers for 3 games to game 6, and 7 against the Caps, and Friday night, and they didnt play five minutes like this, this first period is a wash, as a matter of fact, i dont remember them playing like this since the last week of the regular season.

FK Pittsburgh, we can beat this team, but they have to WANT 2. Like they did against the CAPS.

AK a LEGITIMATE top six forward regardless of his supposed attitude problems played two shifts 1:24 and Maxwell ONE shift and 1:10.

Can JM explain why an offensive talent is sitting and his talented brother is in the press box?? He puts AK on the PP then sits him for the rest of the game? He does not play SK who can play the PK and generate offense for Maxwell who plays ONE shift???

It’s a message. Thos K-bros just aren’t playing playoff hockey. So many lazy defensive mistakes, no intensity, stupid plays that lead to goals. JM is saying, no matter who you are, you don’t play team hockey, you’re gone.

Once again I can’t believe people on this site would rather Price have started…..it’s such a bizare thing too say at this point and time…..This is the Jaro Halak decade,here now and a lot more too come …La pieace du resistance,Creme de la creme and our best player by miles ……

I don’t get JM’s decision to sit Metro and put in 2 guys who are warming the bench. Our 3 lines are tired and will have no gas left to combat the Pens onslaught which we know will keep coming stronger in the 3rd.

The Habs are an exhausted hockey team and are playing like one but they are trying to play smart hockey. Hopefully they are able to hold off the onslot that will come at them this period. We are lucky to be ahead but that is how some games are won.

Not a NHL 4th line and we’re in the playoffs, what can we expect? White should be here at the least, Sergei should be out there as well. Can’t have passengers in a long playoff drive but that’s where we are right now.

I hate how Crosby doesn’t get a penalty for breaking his stick on the net in which Halak was in – then continues to skate with the broken shaft up the ice only to throw it back into the zone at the blue line. Any other player does that and its for sure 2 minutes.

Big PK to start the 3rd – hold them off here and we’re going to hang on to win.

It’s so strange how Halak seems to fit into the Habs’ D so much better than Price. In spite of all the chances the team gives up, none of them are impossible saves, so Halak is never charged with doing the impossible. The resulting effect is that Halak responds to his heavy yet manageable workloads by putting up amazing performances, which seem to inspire the Habs D into giving him the continued shot blocking/no back door play support he needs. It’s a cycle that never seems to establish itself when Carey plays.

Amazing victory…back on our heels most of the game, badly outshot and outplayed - BUT seldom outworked. And Jaro was great, again! Still amazed at all of the people calling for Price before this game, like Jro isnb’t the man or something…

__________________________

“Peoples will only be truly free when the last king is strangled by the bowels of the last priest” Francois Laignelot -

I can’t even believe this team. Just outstanding character, minus AK46. Hope he wises up next game. I’m pretty sure both K-bros are gone this off season regardless….. Anyone still want to start Price? You guys will never learn. Halak showed you how tired he really was.

The camera panned by the point at the end, and I see a number 7 on the left side making I nice pass, it really feels like Markov is still playing. Subban is going to be Markov 2.0 pretty soon, hell he is right now.

I don’t know if there’s any other unfortuate souls stuck where they can’t get RDS, heck I’d even settle for TSN/CBC…But I live in NC right now and I had to watch NBC.

Those guys can suck it. The whole game, Milbury (mostly) and McGuire are just blowing their loads all over the Penguins. Nothing new, I know, but it really got to me today. At the 2nd intermission, they’re discussing the obvious Penguins comeback in the 3rd: Milbury: “I’d take Sid and the Pens.” McGuire: “Good choice.” Well now they look stupid. I’m ambivalent about ChromeDome but Milbury is such a douche.

The NHL’s scheduling can also suck it. They screw the Habs to squeeze in an afternoon “OMG Sidny!!!1″ game on NBC, probably expecting a dominant, blowout win to draw in new fans. I can so picture Bettman rubbing his hands at the tought of it. Instead, they get served a dose of solid defensive hockey, and the Golden Boy loses, which probably won’t be drawing ANYONE South of the border in any time soon.

And final little bit for my rant, man, what’s with the Pittsburgh crowd? Do they not know it’s the playoffs? That you’re supposed to make noise? God what spoiled fans, some Habs fans would give up their pinky finger for Crosby, Malkin and a Cup.

Mike “The Situation” Cammalleri is now second in playoff scoring with 13 points and first in goals with 8. Not too mention the fact that the next two games are in Montreal, and he tends to step it up big time at home. This should be good.

Ok, so now we know Montreal does have what it takes to make this a close
series, and its the same game we played Washington with. We frustrated
Sidney Crosby w/ our young star, youngster, P.K Subban(76). Ron MacLean
called P.K. a young Bobby Orr. But if I hear the same thing from Cherry
then I’ll know its true.

Halak, again walked on water for the Habs tonight. When Halak is on, the
team is on; it is definitely a light switch that gets turned on. They
play as 1. Every Game they have won they have won by design and again I
give it up for the coach as well…Martin and Co. constructed the Blue
Print for success… But remeber folks Gainy was the master
draftsman/tradesman in all of this, In partial absentia Gainey is still
the helsman.

We can play those guys even without Marky.!! Is he officially officially out

– YES HABS CAN!! –

Get this. I had to work today so I pvr’d the game. My wife was working too. I just got home, not knowing the score, excited to watch. Go to my recordiings, no game. It seems my wife came home on her lunch and decided to record a movie. I’m so freakin’ mad! Glad we got the win though.

I couldn’t stand it any longer. I switched to RDS about a minute before the Habs first goal. I don’t understand much french but I watch a lot of games on RDS and would much rather that than Cole or McGuire.

Wowzer, what an introduction for me to the delights of hockey on big screen high definition TV. It almost felt like I was there.

Bettman’s plan for a nationwide Crosby show in the USA at the expense of your tired Montreal Canadiens was spoiled by a team of great discipline and character with, dare I say it, skillful coaching. We are off and in the running in this series.

- Another solid game from Halak. Don’t feel that he had to make as many spectacular saves as he did against Washington, but he was in great position all night long.

- Oustanding job from the entire D corps, notably another standout performance from Gorges and Gill and very good games from PK and Hamrlik. Hamr looks like he is once again stepping up his game with Markov out. Have to say that Markov was not playing his best hockey, but his loss is as much a mental challenge to overcome as a hockey one. He is the supposed leader of that D group and the PP is supposed to run through him. Would be nice to get spacek back in and play 7 D again so we can put Bergeron in situations that he can deal with. Hopefully Markov just has a sprain and can make it back towards the end of the series. If it is any kind of a ligament tear, he is done for the year likely, and the Habs will need him if they want to make a run any deeper than this round.

- The vets stepped up on offence again, with Cammilleri, Gio, and Gomez leading the charge again. But like Hamr, Pouliot also played his best game of the playoffs thus far today. Lapierre has brought consistent energy. Obviously Maxwell is not ready for the NHL and Darche didn’t get much use, so I’d rather have Metro back and either Spacek or if not SK74 fill that last position in the lineup. It’s one thing for JM to be mad at a player, and maybe we don’t know what he did, but it’s not like we can do anything with him this season and the Habs need players right now to take some quality minutes, as the stars cannot continue to play every 2-3 shifts all game. SK74 at least has that potential. very happy with the split in Pittsburgh, would like to see the habs respond with a more complete game on Tuesday and take the lead in the series. That would really put the pressure on Pittsburgh. Fleury has looked shaky and he is giving up juicy rebounds. Pittsburgh is as much there for the taking as Washington was. they will likley dominate each game but if we hang in and remain opportunistic we have a good chance.

i eat my words. said earlier pens would come out stronger than 1st game. an excellent character win..lots of guts. kudo’s to undermanned D..hardly any 2nd and 3rd shots…halal playing back to form..love it.

I still don’t get the idea of dressing AK and sitting him the entire game. Dress SK and see if he’ll play a bit. Or dress AK and play him to see if he works hard and if he doesn’t then sit him. But dress him with the explicit plan to play him 1 minute? Why? Let him eat hotdogs for a game.

Don’t buy it. He was already skating earlier. Either he has an ear problem and can skate but can’t shake it enough to follow a game at the speed he needs to or maybe he even has an injury that has nothing to do with a virus or his ear.

I watched today’s tilt at the Cage aux Sports close to my house with a bunch of friends and family. It was crazy atmosphere. And an awesome game. Jaro…man…how’d he last 11 rounds? And how many GMs are wishign they had picked up Mike Cammalleri and ya think Sutter regrets letting him walk? You know what? I don’t really care!

The best thing is that the NBC audience watched the Habs beat the Pens today with stifling defensive hockey, shutting down the Pens’ two most prolific scoring superstars in the process with a 3-1 chess match.

Hmmmm…funny how Gomez singled out Muller for praise on making adjustments to the PK and no mention of JM. Just saying. I noticed after game seven Muller was again mentioned by several players and not JM.

I watched the game on NBC because Cole is such an idiot. I think he has pre Alzheimer’s. is that guy ever going to retire? I can’t believe there’s nobody more qualified that him.

and I’m getting really sick of hearing about Crosby. it’s Crosby this and Crosby that, and how fantastic he is. it’s nauseating. enough already.

I hate to say this, but I was kind of wishing that hit on MAB would be serious enough to keep him out of the lineup for good. his giveaways I can’t take. you know 1 of them will result in a goal for Pitt.Why can’t we just bring up another Dman from Hamilton? I mean they do have emergency callup. I just can’t take MAB anymore!

I would personally say 2 games. I think the NHL will give him 1 though. He is a nobody compared to most of the Pitssburgh lineup so it won’t matter much to them I’m sure, but that’s a moot point. I think a hit like that is worse than what Lapierre did and he got 4 regular season games. I think the NHL will look and say Bergeron’s fine now and completely miss the point of how dangerous the hit was. Also did not like the hit that Cammalleri took earlier, should have been charging and could have hurt him badly the way Markov was hurt going into the boards from 3 feet out.

Game 1’s loss was my fault. I deviated from all my superstitions and i got drunk enough that the game almost seemed like a forgetable bad dream. Today, i brought all my routines back, geared down and let the habs stress me to the max. And i loved it.

What a F@#$ing idiot you are wishing MAB goes down. We are allready down 2 d-men and then to lose our best shot on the PP. Yes he is scarey back on defense and was -1 today as were 5 other Habs. Wish they get hurt too? And who do we bring up? Bonehead.

I guess Crosby should sit next game for making that dumbass cross ice pass that lead to the Pleks intercept and pass to Cammy for the third goal? Mistakes happen and JM has to get over it unless every move he makes is perfect.

That’s what I was thinking yesterday too but if you watch the video of him at practice he is very slow, and usually away from the team. Someone posted what he had on here and it sounds like its a very lingering problem, could plague him for a while.

This summer we need to package AK and SK out of here for some big guys who can actually play. Also, Paul Mara should be gone… I never really got to know if I liked him or not but he led the team in the – category all year….

What a game though… This team has far surpassed the happiness that the 07-08 Habs brought to me.

I still maintain that Bob knew what he was doing all along. Way to go sir, you’ve done the city well.

I’ve thought the same about the doghouse brothers, SK and AK. Maybe Gilbert Brule from Edmonton (RW, power forward type) would be good. If we don’t resign Moore, I think getting Cogliano for the third line would be smart, he’s scored 18 goals twice before, has speed.

I know it’s still early in his career, but Halak is going to be the best goalie in the world for a long time. The guy just has to work on a couple of things and he’ll be scary. It’s funny that everyone thought we had a legendary goaltender for the past few years, and the whole time we actually did, it just turned out that it people had pegged the wrong guy!

You mean 5’10” Brule? That’s not power forward size by the least and he’s reading like a serious Top 10 bust on his stats so far. Cogliano’s got 18 goals because of his speed and that is it, he has no finish in him. We don’t need Oilers to get ahead, honestly.

You want to poach for a power forward? Kyle Beach from the WHL, CHI has his draft rights. 52G this season in the WHL, 6’3″ winger and is considered a potential Top-3 player on an NHL team.

i love this team. there has not been a team in montreal with this much character in a long time. do you pay a guy for his regular season contributions or what he does now? gomez has been outstanding, he is used in virtually every situation in a game. nobody is complaining about his salary now. just remember this next november. imagine if pleks can get going, we would be lights out.

Price should never have started any game ever, nor should he ever start until next season, if he’s even still here, which is a big if. After Halak’s last 3 games vs. Wash., you want to start can’t win Price for game 1? Just leave the goaltending decisions up to the experts, because if it was up to you, this team wouldn’t even have made the playoffs.

sure, you sound like kelly hrudey. reward the guy who got you to the next round by sitting him. come on. if that was done and price laid an egg, martin would be shot.. some people criticize everything martin does..

Is anyone in the Montreal media going to ask the NHL why a player who takes his stick swings it wildly against the other goaltenders post is not at least given a penalty. Then he carries the broken shaft and throws its. How about going after crosby and asking him how he would feel if that was a Montreal player that did that. If Crosby the class of the league I think he needs to answer for this. I think the fans of Montreal deserve a answer from the NHL why he can do such a thing.

He has a goal and 7 assists so far in 9GP, point production like that in the playoffs is very valuable. He isn’t worth 7.4 million of course, but he’s given a lot so far for the team. I’ll take his overpayment if he’ll play at his best in the post-season, Marleau and Thornton are costing the Sharks like 13 million to do nothing.

I’m sure Metro is still injured, but that was definately a dumb move. Maxwell hasn’t played a game in like 6 weeks and sucks, AK, you have to start, and Darche is Darche. Metro had the most PP goals on the team and is a veteran, character guy. He definately is more usefull than Maxwell as a 4th line center. Don’t get that move at all. i’m sure he’ll go back to him in MTL.

Well, let me just be the first to say…I agree…with your second sentence

Man these guys have some heart and soul, don’t they? Hard to figure them out all season, apart from their unwillingness to roll over, then they turn in performances like this and wow! This is going to be some good team for a few years to come.

Looking forward to more playoff hockey! Split is nice considering the absolutely insane scheduling by the NHL. The Hab’s are doing it with Halak and proving all the doubters (including me early on) wrong. Could be another magical spring like 1993 was. GO HABS GO!!!

This year he has been not bad. Aside from his obsession with Price and keeping Max Pac and D’Ags on this team so long, he hasn’t been too dumb. It’s the last 5 years where he was really a failure. In his defense, at least he recognised that and dumped everybody.

To put this into perspective. Matts Sundin got kinda pissed once and threw hisbroken stick into the stands – that got him a one game suspension. The #87 play was a lame thing to do seeing that Moore just made a nice play on him. Earlier in the year Cammy whipped his stick after getting a flagrant Hi Stick (that actually got lodged into his helmet) – no penalty on that play (for the hi stick either)

It being right beside Halak made it a tad dangerous – but i think this just proves that #87 is losing his shit a little bit – I’m happy about it.

Why do you have to start AK? He has only shown up for one playoff game. Cooke’s goal today was AK’s fault as AK slept in the face off and his man slip behind him. His bad dump last game cost us. AK has all the skill in the world nut no heart, no hockey sense, no team play and nothing between the head. Time to trade him, perhaps as a package with his brother.

I agree Gomez has had a hell of a playoffs so far. But for some people to deny the negative impact his salary will have on the future of this franchise is delusional. I am beginning to warm up to the player but his salary still makes me want to punch BG.

The Habs have too much class for that. I sense the Habs are getting into their heads. Lots of hockey to play but Gomez, Cammy, Gionta are looking like great signings. Habs beat them rolling 3 lines and playing as a unit on the back of outstanding netminding and PK duty. Nice seeing Moen on the second line in place of AK.

I owe the Habs and all of their fans a huge apology. I didn’t wear my Cammalleri jersey last game and look what happened. Wore it again this afternoon and Cammy nails two and we win. We’ve won every time I’ve worn it. It’s the jersey – I’m tellin’ ya. I promise, I won’t wash it and will wear it for every game here on out. ;o))

I haven’t seen a defensive system( Trap or whatever it is) executed to perfection like this since the NJ devils used it to win the cup those times. This is really impressive stuff . Halak can be our Brodeur except he faces double the shots.

The Pens switched up the faceoff alignment having a Dman taking the winger spot opposite AK and Cooke was the floater. Who was AK supposed to cover?

Maybe someone?….JM, Halak, MAB or O’Byrne could have yelled at AK to cover Cooke coming late? Maybe JM should NOT have had their FIRST shift take place just outside of our own blueline FIVE minutes into the game? Maybe JM should NOT have had the fifth and sixth Dmen on with the fourth line with two forwards NEW to the line? NOOOOOOOOO….it is all AK’s fault.

In terms of offensive contributions, but Markov was also the steadying veteran partner of O’Byrne who really needs a vet next to him to guide him and help him out. Markov hasn’t been at his best, but looking at old highlights of him versus this season, his skating is not 100% after the tendon injury and that’s made it hard for a guy in his style, a skating defencemen to play at his best. He’s still very smart with the puck, but his weakened skating makes it harder for him to do what he usually does. He’ll have to work on restoring that in the off-season but if he can’t completely, he’ll have to adjust his game to compensate for it.

Even if Markov hasn’t been an ace in each game these playoffs, his making OB not a liability on D was huge for us. The confidence OB gets from playing next to Markov made a big difference in those final games against Washington.

Another GREAT shutdown game by our defense…..and with the obvious missing….that says a lot. WHOLE NEW SERIES NOW…..HA HA HA HA….man iam loving this team more and more…..they will never die….CAMMY in UNREAL and Thanks again HALAK !!!!!! Man your solid boeyyyyy . MAB took a hard DIRTY hit….hope there’s no concuss…..AHHHH, A CROSBY AND MALKIN SHUTDOWN – LUV IT

Watching the 3rd period today just seemed like watching the last games of the Washington series all over again. The Penguins threw the kitchen sink at us and still managed to lost. Halak was, yet again, simply amazing, after a lackluster performance in game 1. The guys in front also blocked a lot shots. And their star looked awfully frustrated and it showed in his game.

Bettman will declare that Cammy’s high stick should have received a 60 minute penalty, which will be assessed next game. Cammy will also be suspended for the playoffs, and the game will be moved to Pittsburgh after NBC demands it.

If Price and the power play hadn’t crapped the bed in the 07-08 playoffs we could be having a very different conversation. However, you are absolutely correct about Max Pac and D’Ags… Hopefully Max Pac is still salvageable because I think D’Ags is a lost cause no matter where he plays from now on

i would still like to see some changes in the offseason no matter how far we go and i think we know what they should be thats for another time… for now we ride it and hang on and play hard. here’s hoping the bubble does not burst any time soon.

i love all the talking heads..there almost at a loss for words on the success we are having..boggles and frustrates me.

I agree, and have been saying that for years.. He looks like tiger woods, always a shade away from crying. he should have got a penalty for that slash off of the post. the ref seen it for christ’s sake!! I hope gill stays in his face and keeps him crying like a little girl!!

So excited with these Habs right now… second round? 1-1 with the Stanley Cup champions? Are you kidding me? Cami matched Crosby every step. Halak’s positioning was perfect ( yes Boone, he IS in their heads).

Biggest weapon? The idea that the Penguins (the Cup last year, Sidney’s Gold) are manifest destiny.

Mike Boone? No matter what happens, Puck Bard is now the Habs official fanboy.

I’d rather the team got a good rest, but today’s game is great for me. I’ve been watching the Internet feeds all season long, but I recently got a television as a gift from my family, and today will be the first time I see a hockey game on a large screen in high definition. I remember Mike Boone said it makes a big difference. I’m looking forwrd to it. I will eventually get cable or satellite tv, probably before the World Cup begins.

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV then you won’t have HD. You need a HD reciever along with special channels to get HD TV. Your TV sounds like it is HD ready though, so this is something else to look forward to when you upgrade. Enjoy the game on your new TV, it still will be better then on a computer screen.

I think the guy who has quietly impressed me these playoffs is Moore. He has won a lot of battles and scored some nice goals. I’d be more than happy to bring him back as our third line centre for cheap.

For the past five years I have been listening to the games on CJAD from TAJIKISTAN at 4am (and 3am with Daylight Savings Time), North West PAKISTAN (at 4:30am with really shady satellite phone as a connection), from my honeymoon in MALAYSIA at 7am, and now back in AFGHANISTAN where the games start at 3:30am. I’ve missed about 20% of the games, much to the delight of my new wife.

Sadly, the connection is never good enough for me to actually watch the games- so I always listen to Murray and Rick – of whom, both have been solid supporters of my support via email and the like.

Tomorrow (or today for most of you), I have a flight at 7am Afghan time which means I would normally miss the 3rd period. I have made my arrangements to get SMSs from people around the world while I sit in the hideously dull Kabul airport. YET, today, the Satanic Curses of Bettman and American Media, have somehow given me a moment of destiny so I can actually listen to this full game. It’s a sur-real moment. A friend of mine in Ireland is always revelling in this as he gets to watch (better internet on the Isle) it online at 7pm (like a civilized person residing on the East Coast or in Brazil or even Guyana) instead of 12am.

So, before Boone and all blow curses galore at Bettman and his greedy dementia, please know that for the first time in many many years, there are a few dozen loyal freaks in the world who are happy tonight/this morning/now for this sick piece of scheduling. Now, while it’s clear it’s destiny for me and these few in odd time zones, let’s just hope it’s destiny for the Habies.

I can only assume you’re doing some good out there in Kabul otherwise why would you be there… This is our sunshine moment (as it looks like it’s about to rain here north of Victoria BC) Hearing your story and how the unfair schedule actually works for you is all I need to hear to stop complaining about it. The boys know they’re in tough. They’ll play with their hearts on their sleeves and hopefully having the odds stacked against them (again) will channel some sort of herculian effort today. They can count on the adrenaline of the home crowd to get them thru thursday. I’m sure we’ll be playing next Saturday, and as we all know by now, anything can happen. Get some rest (Habs and troops) We’re pulling for all of you.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;None but ourselves can
free our minds.Have no fear for atomic energy,‘Cause none of
them can stop the time.How long shall they kill our prophets,While
we stand aside and look? Ooh!Some say it’s just a part of itWe’ve
got to fulfil de book.

Won’t you help to singThese songs of
freedom? ‘Cause all I ever haveRedemption songsRedemption
songsRedemption songs.

Ahhh…now I need to smoke!

__________________________

“Peoples will only be truly free when the last king is strangled by the bowels of the last priest” Francois Laignelot -

Hopefully we won’t re-sign Bergeron. Solid PP specialist but the Habs really need to focus on the core of D. Subban will take his spot. I don’t expect Hamrlik to be a Hab next season. He will be traded or either bought out.

When MAB first signed here, I was excited to see what he could bring to the PP. When he got here, I was disappointed and didn’t care much for his defense. When he moved to forward, he became less of a liability and his contributions to the Pp were surprisingly good. But as a D, even against teams that are skilled teams and not just grinders and hitters, he is floundering. At least I feel like he’s trying (unlike AK46), but come on man, it’s pretty clear why 29 other teams passed on him and why he shouldn’t be invited back next year.

Anyone else here feel the pens are a really dirty team? a lot of high hits, subtle picks and interference, behind the play hits, and a lot of stick work like subtle hooking/stick lifting and the works. Washington played nothing like that

Pittsburgh’s goal – Y does Martin play Maxwell, Darche, A. Kostitsyn with O’byrne and MAB?…..thats definately a great line >.>….. Halak….well.. never been really good on 1 vs. 1’s….hasn’t been tested much at all, but hopefully he is still steady

Montreal’s Goal – definately a momentum change…sort of……we were outshot 9-3…then came back outshooting them 12-9….so, good for Gio with good play by Gomez and Puliot

Weber had a setback this season in the AHL and he doesn’t offer an upgrade in size/checking ability and I haven’t seen much from him in the Dogs games I’ve watched. We need a 7th defender who can hit, I suspect Montreal will shop for a 7th man in the off-season for about a million.

Ok Two problems with the CBC(so im watching the game on nbc) One the regular NBC channel is HIgh def, why does cbc have to have a special channel for high def

two Glenn Heally Decent broadcaster my ***. Seriously he is slagging the habs for dumping in the puck and not being able to get it. The clip he shows is a change where they dump it in an turn back to change the line. I never thought there would be someone worse than McGuire. Guess i was wrong

As for the game, I don’t think it was to bad after it all settled down. Boring to watch a bit, but I think the pace and flow of the game is good for us.

i, like many, have been critical of CBC’s “coverage” of the playoffs, but so far in today’s game they have come up with 2 fantastic moments.

1. The Friedman report, where they quote MAB, who crediting his junior coach with turning him into an NHL player, as saying “If you think i’m bad on defence now, you shoudl have seen me then!” Classic.

2. The intermission right now where they caught Muller on the bench completely eying up JM after his questionable coaching decision that lead to the Pens goal. That is GREAT coverage.

So kudos CBC, for entertaining and enlightening me thus far this afternoon

I think anytime you can let the regulars get an extra 90 seconds of recoup time on the bench, that is a good thing. I’ll bet they’ll see more time when JM can control the matchups. Right now they are Anaerobic Recovery Assistants, and that’s it.

Some of the shots were from far and not that dangerous… stats are decieving. I thought that our D is doing a good job at limiting the dangerous shots. Not saying they are playing great.. they are great at pushing the Pens to the outside and force the tough shots…

With Cole it’s not his fault the retirement age at CBC is 104, Ron it’s just willing ignornance and laziness from being the babysitter for a bitter xenophobic crank who never got over a penalty call in 1979.

Never fails to amaze me in a country that gets so bent out of shape over patriotism and percieved lack of it, they’ll let anyone sing the anthem regardless of the fact they’d have a hard time getting on American Idol outside of “Best of the Worst”.

… I hope when i get to Mr.Boone’s age, with a little bit of luck mind you, the world would have discovered a medication to prevent the hate era, i hate that guy, i hate this and i can’t stand b.s.. ……………. Then again there is weed that helps eliminate some of that in your advanced years.

I wonder if concussions can affect epileptics differently? In my opinion, Ak46 has not been the same man since his concussion. His passing seems less accurate. Some shots seem ill advised. Sometimes he looks like… what’s the word… uncomfortable, unaware…

Did de suck when SK was in Hamilton? Pretty much.

i think Andrei excels when he is within his comfort level. Loose. offensive.

RDS also said that the organization is keeping the media away from PK, in order to impede another “Gui Lats” phenomena, where he becomes the Habs nation’s favorite and gets pressure, and eventually f”ks it up..

HIGHLIGHT REEL; CINDY BUTTMAN’S MELTDOWN, this is your posterchild, breaks stick, throws stick, yapps his way into a new commercial or photo shoot. $$$$$$$$$$$….. DISGUSTING…………on the positive side were in this yappers head

I LOVE THIS TEAM! Great character win for the Habs despite no Markov. Terrific PK effort on 3 consecutive penalties in the third. Solid performance from Halak again. Huge momentum shift for our return to the Bell Centre. OLE OLE OLE!!!!

I am astounded at how well these guys have come together,insopite of losing Markov,The Habs this year could have folded or used any number of reasons not to rise to the occasion, Congrats to there will to win & play like thet are in it to win it….Go Habs Go ,……regardless of what happens now,their play now has completely washed away any negativity many of us thought about them over the course of this season…Mea Culpa… Go Habs Go

Couldn’t believe no D-men were picked for a star,but this team does play like a team now,so they all deserved mention. If you have to pick then hard to beat Halak , Cammy and pick anyone in a Habs uniform.

I sure wish the refs wouldn’t seem to be so obviously biased in assesing penalty’s ,but like in Washington the Habs prevailed inspite of the Zebras calls

Bob built this team around his own style. Quiet confidence. No over the top celebration yet. Notice how Cammy reacts on the nail in the coffin goal? Listen to Gionta in the NBC interview? The first win in Washington was a surprise. The loss in game 2 was a bigger surprise. Jaro, Gionta, Cammy, Gorges… they lead by example. They never quit, and it’s contagious. Pleks gets it, he’s one of the few europeans with heart. The K brothers are all about the K brothers. They will be gone. Well done Mr Gainey. I like our chances very much to go all the way sir! I for one, am not surprised. Use the usual route

Andrei Kostitsyn’s career stats show that he’s hottest against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If he can show up, the Habs have this one in the bag. The guy can change a game if he wants to. Shades of Ovechkin, but too inconsistent and lazy.

Why Crosby should be suspended for the rest of the playoffs. That was a absolutely dangerous plays slashing his stick on our goaltended post and can anyone prove that wasn’t meant for Halak. That was no accident he swung his stick in a reckless fashion that could have really hurt our goalie. Then he carried his broken stick and then he threw it, are you kidding me. If that was Laps that did that he be gone for the playoffs and his picture would go up in the post office.